Hannibal Review: Tea Cups

As Hannibal Season 2 Episode 11 demonstrated, Hannibal is not without remorse - but that does not mean Hannibal is the type of man to cower down to a God.

Why? Because he is a God in his own eyes.

The scene at the FBI when they are confirming that it is indeed Freddie's body was chilling and a little tongue in cheek. Will and Hannibal are simultaneously leading Jack and the team on, while talking with each other through half-truths and metaphors about her deaths.

When Will mentions that Freddie's killer is rising from the ashes to be noticed - at least by Hannibal - it's a moment to play God in the situation and to show that they are all knowing and are anticipating what will be coming next.

The scene with Hannibal and Will talking with each other about fatherhood, and about Abigail Hobbs particularly, brought out a new emotion in Hannibal: remorse.

I cannot remember the last time Hannibal has ever been regretful about his actions, but he was sad about taking her away from Will. He still believes that it had to happen, but his remorse is so well played that it's almost enough to fall under his spell.

Hannibal continues his exchange with the tea cup metaphor, that he sometimes drops one and hopes it can put itself back together. Abigail is that tea cup.

She was just young and fragile enough to break easily and never come back together, yet she was able to hold anything Hannibal wanted; instead of taking this chance, he dropped her. Will feels very much like the newest teacup for Hannibal, but this time he will harden Will and make sure he is unbreakable.

Hannibal will cast the mold and Will will be of his design. Hannibal views himself as a father figure to Will.

However, like all good installments of Hannibal, there's another side to everything. There's the side that we are not allowed to see: the side that Will is very much the same man. It's what he does not want Hannibal to find out.

Will is not rising from the ashes, he's stoking them to smoke Hannibal out. He is still the same man we all know, but he's learning how to play the game and how to win. I bought his performance hook, line, and sinker - and so did Hannibal; his performance is so moving that his former number one fan Alana even bought it.

Hannibal mentions that, in terms of chemistry and biology, that murder and fatherhood have the same type of effects on a man's body. After Freddie is revealed to still be alive, it looked like Will might actually succumb to that darkness that Mason destroyed Margot's lady parts and the embryo inside of her.

As much as I'm happy Will has kept his humanity intact, Mason is someone I would not mind him taking out. Yet even this scene continues Will's arc of redemption, he's not even willing to take out the man who has wrecked his future child. Rather, Will uses this time to plant seeds into Mason's head about Hannibal.

Margot's life and relationships as a Verger only get worse by the day. She's trying her best to survive amongst the onslaught of Mason and small digs by Hannibal end up pointing Mason in the right direction. She's been abused and used by every man in her household, and she cannot escape it even in the dead of night.

It's no wonder she does not see men as anything more than sperm banks, that she does not see the Verger men as welcome influences on her child's life (yet more small hints towards Margot ultimately being gay).

Did you buy in to Will's act that he really did kill Freddie Lounds?

Nope, it was just you McHatton!I was starting to doubt myself.I was reeled in hook, line, and sinker.

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Wow, what a brilliant show ! Finally caught up with it all and man, Mason is one sick, twisted piece of work ! We have seen a lot on Hannibal, but him taking her lady parts and forcing her to have an abortion was sickening. And believe it or not, I can eat throughout a Hannibal episode just fine, not even flinch. But this... I hate to watch Michael Pitt play Mason... and he does it so well...Now Freddie dead ? Nah, no chance. Though, the imagery of Will coming out of his cocoon and becoming the stag might be misleading. I have read all reviews and comments and agree that this is a long con. Jack taking Alana to Freddie after their conversation or interrogation, proves it, or at least some of it. Now is Will doing some improvisation, sure. Planting the seeds in Mason's mind is one of many. I found it interesting to see Hannibal showing regret over killing Abigail. Though I feel like remorse would be stronger and I don't think he was there yet. Will has lost two children. And man I wish he had killed Mason. But he still didn't. And it means that he hasn't gone too far yet. I do understand that to catch Hannibal, he has to become him, or at least make him believe it, but for us viewers, it is good to see that he is not there yet. There is still hope. However, Will has definitely become colder and more introverted. It is chilling to watch sometimes.Is it me, or Mason collecting the tears and drinking them feels like he is feeding from the pain he inflicts ? Twisted prick.Alan and Hannibal, still weird and wrong to watch. Though he starting to feel like she is not under his spell anymore. Again, the seeds of doubt which were a long time coming ! I mean, Will had every reasons to say what he said to her on his porch. She gave up on him, she didn't believe him. So no, she doesn't get to do whatever it is she's trying to do. On top of it all, she went with the very man he was warning them about. That woman !I am so glad they renewed the show. I wonder if season 3 will be about Hannibal finally getting caught...

Fudgefase•May 12, 2014 14:27

Given the first episode of this season, I'm not sure how season three will possibly pick up...

So glad this got picked up for another season.........Hugh Dancy and Mads M. continue to be AMAZING in their performances...........the cinematography also continues to be amazing..........I know this show is definitely too dark for a lot of folks............... Mason Verger is one sick individual............I hope he gets fed to the pigs as he did in the movies...........I haven't read the novels............. Quote from the review " (yet more small hints towards Margot ultimately being gay)." And WHAT does this have to do with the price of tea in China? WHO CARES if the character is gay????????? If you paid attention last night, Hannibal is pulling the strings of both Margot and Mason..........he's pitting them against each other in hopes that one will kill the other or they kill each other...........

Freddie Lounds is alive...I'm so glad I was right LOL. Sorry Nick! Even after I read that interview, I had a feeling that Fuller was trolling us to keep the ruse going. There were a lot of clues in the show that showed us how self-aware Will was. His knowledge of who he was is what clued him in to his set-up, and I believed that Will knew that he wasn't a killer and that he wouldn't become one. Margot is probably the most tragic character on the show. Her forced abortion - even though we didn't see it - was one of the hardest things I've had to watch on that show. I loved the scene where Hannibal actually shows some remorse. He truly does seem to be courting Will, and continues to have that warped sense of friendship towards him. So much so that he puts a piece of their "adopted" daughter in an effigy. (How long does Hannibal keep body parts around, anyway?). Am I the only one that found Alana super annoying this episode?

Alana annoying ? No, you're not the only one ! I finally decided to watch the show and as of now, she is the character that I hate the most, and that says a lot ! Gosh, what a self righteous woman ! Loved how Will told how it was. She's got some nerves !

No, you're not the only one. But I've never been a fan of Alana - I find her dull and bloodless. She was beyond annoying in this episode though. I agree completely with the rest of what you said as well (the Margot scene was disturbing) and yay yay yay, Freddie is alive! I also really love Michael Pitt's sick portrayal of Mason. He's a remarkable actor.

JK•May 10, 2014 15:26

See my comment from last week. God - or Hannibal - help me, but I love to say I told you so. ;p

I was starting to doubt myself. its one of the greatest shows on tv now, but after i saw the green-light for season 3, i'm wondering where can it go from here.(SPOILER: jack catches hannibal)

JK@ xal•May 10, 2014 16:02

If the original plan still holds, seasons 1-3 will be original material, 4, 5 and 6 will cover the events of Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal (respectively), and season 7 (the final season) will again be original material, providing closure to the story. Although I seem to recall they were having some difficulty getting the rights to the characters of Jame Gumb and Clarice Starling. Nothing a change of name wouldn't fix, but still, I hope it doesn't come to that.

I'm ecstatic about the season 3 pickup, but I'm also wondering how Fuller will proceed from here. (spoiler alert if you were planning on reading the novels) The death of Lounds and his burning body in a rolling wheelchair is easily one of the most pivotal moments and memorable images in the Red Dragon novel. By using it so far ahead of time without Francis Dolarhyde, I'm clueless (and intrigued) as to how Fuller will adapt Red Dragon without one of the most significant scenes from the novel.